Muzzle attachment for cannons



(No Model.)

J. H. HAMMER. MUZZLE ATTACHMENT FOR CANNON.

No. 587,731. Patented Aug. 10,1897.

51 woe-n toa H mmah 61 (tor/wa n1: wmvs PETER$ co. mom-ummwmwmcrou, 0 c4 wi/tmeoow UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HENRY HAMMER, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

MUZZLE ATTACHM ENT FOR CANNONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 587,731, dated August 10, 1897. Application filed Maroh15,1897. Serial No. 627,630. No model.\

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN HENRY Hanunn, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Cannons, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful im provements in attachments for cannous, &c., which Will protect the bore from injury from moisture and accumulation of dust and dirt.

The object of my invention is to provide a device of the above-rcfcrred-to class which can be easily attached to and detached from the end of the barrel and be automatically operated by means of the compression of the air in the bore.

With the above and other objects in view the invention finally consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more specifically described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, and wherein like figures of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the barrel and attachment. Fig. 2 is an end view of the attachment. Fig. 3 is an end view of the same with a portion removed. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the same. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal view of the barrel and attachment. Fig. 0 is a sectional view showing manner of hinging the automatically-operated parts.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the barrel of a cannon or similar firearm; 2, the bore. To the end of the barrel is secured, by means of a split ring 3, an attachment 4-, with a flange 4, having an opening 5, registering with the bore 2. Said attachment carries doors 6, hinged at 7 and provided with springs S to keep the doors normally closed, gare' bolts securing the ends of the split ring.

The operation is as follows: The gun is charged in any of the well-known ways, the doors of the attachment being closed when the charge is fired, the air in the bore between the projectile and doors forcing the doors open in the position shown in Fig. 5. When the projectile passes the muzzle, the force of the spring 8 closes the opening of the bore.

It will be noted that various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having fully described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

An attachment for cannons, consisting of a cap provided with flanges adapted to engage the muzzle of the cannon said cap provided with an opening registering with the bore, doors hinged near the edge of said opening, springs secured to the cap and engaging said doors, and means for securing said cap to the cannon, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I al'lix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J OIIN HENRY HAMMER.

Witnesses W. H. TIMMERMANN, Tnos. M. BOYD, Jr. 

